25 October, 2016

That's right! I have put it all out there for you guys to see just as it is. These videos will be covering all the things I love and am passionate about, along with all the shenanigans that go on whilst touring. And... one of the main goals of this blog is to document my upcoming journey of how I plan to set sail in 2018, touring our show by wind on the high seas.

14 February, 2016

Stream the entire CD with this player- full versions of all 14 tracks! Click the cart to download individual songs or the full CD at discounted pricing. Also available at iTunes, Google Music, and all of your favorite digital services.

21 January, 2016

It's been a long time coming and a lot of hard work but it's finally here! The long awaited collaboration between Jay Hoad and Chris Finnen is ready for release. This weekend there will be a special preview launch concert for Jay and Chris' local fans who will have the first crack to take home the new CD!

4.
Music breaks all language barriers; jamming with people in other
countries that don't necessarily even speak the same language as you and
being able to understand each other on a musical level is always
incredible!

5. Playing your own music and being able to make people's day brighter, simply through a song.

Check out the tour schedule and get yourself over to a show in your neck of the woods and say g'day to Jay!

Two of South Australia's finest and internationally known musicians,
Chris Finnen and Jay Hoad have embarked on an exciting campaign seeking
public support with a Pozible Crowdfunding Campaign so they can finish producing their latest album, "Off the Cuff".

For the Record:Chris Finnen, one of Australia's most innovative guitarists is often referred to as a
'guitarist's guitarist', was inducted into the South Australian Music
Hall in 1995, and the Blues Hall of Fame in New York, USA, in August
2013.

In 2005 Chris performed for the Dalai Lama and was a guest of the
International Expo in Nagoya, Japan. He has performed on stage with some
of the world's greatest guitarists and performers including, Buddy Guy,
Bo Diddley, Eric Burdon, Roy Buchanan, Jimmy Witherspoon, Keb Mo, Bob
Brozman, Johnny Copeland, The Holmes Brothers, and the list continues...Jay Hoad
is well know Internationally for his high-energy exotic sounds of
blues, rock, reggae, island, Latin and Celtic music, whether playing
solo or with other musicians. Over the last eight years Jay has toured
the world performing his music in the Caribbean, South East Asia, India,
Fiji, the United States and Australia and has been inspired by their
music and cultures while touring. His performances create a host of
exotic sounds from his assortment of guitars, didgeridoo, dulcimer,
percussion and lap steel guitar.

During my interview with Jay and Chris I asked:

How did this album come about ?Jay said, "John Edwards, a good friend of Chris's from his days in
Darwin during the 80's, held a party at Goolwa to bring Chris and I and a
couple of other musicians together. Chris and I hit it off on the night
and we jammed together, and that is where the idea of us recording
together, and "Off the Cuff" came into being.'

Later, in May 2014, John organised the memorable reunion performance when Chris and Jay performed at The Groove Garden
at McLaren Vale. It was a sell-out show. During that gig they announced
they would be recording a new album. There was immediate interest
expressed by the crowd.

During a recent interview Jay said, "Spontaneity gives that creative
edge to this album as we purposely didn't let each other hear the
others songs before we got into the studio. We were constantly surprising each other as we were going along."

"Off the Cuff" has 15 tracks which are now in the final stages of recording and production. It is due for release in June 2015 if funding is successful (and possibly in early 2016 if not successful).

10 November, 2014

Our annual appearance at this awesome festival! We had Jim on trumpet and Brett on drums, along with a huge fantastic audience. Beautiful setting. Click the poster to see photos. We'll try to get some video up soon too!

Here's a link to a promo interview we did for the Fiji Broadcasting Company:

01 December, 2013

I've been proud to partner with the
Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative over the past several years to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans.
Visit their web site for more information.

15 November, 2013

There is a wealth of infused culture in Fiji if you know where to look!

Here I am with Jim performing in Fiji at Baka Blues, a jazz and blues club run by Paul and Stella Lawrence, a wonderful New Zealand expatriate couple. They've created a cool venue where local Fijian musicians as well as touring musicians (like us!) can perform the music we love for an ever growing and appreciative audience. See videos from this performance here and here.

01 November, 2013

It's my third year in a row at this festival! It's always extra special to return and perform in my birth homeland. New this year I'll be touring with my trumpet player, Jim from North America. Can't wait to see everybody!

08 October, 2013

Hot on the heels of releasing "Home Is Where The Heart Is", I've recorded and released something entirely different and unique! "Earth Music" is a completely instrumental album, with a modern New Age flavor.

This project is the result of a collaboration earlier this year (see HERE) with Pamela Gibson, aka "Yoga Pam". The audio tracks were recorded live in conjunction with her yoga class. No audio from the yoga class is on this CD, only music. We chose to record it like this to capture the essence of the improvised compositions as they developed to suit the “real time” yoga class.

10 September, 2013

I'm winding up the national "Home Is Where The Heart Is" tour by returning to my South Australian home for a grand finale show with my full band!

Click this link for tickets, however if you are local to the greater Adelaide area we'd like to get YOU involved with the publicity for this one. Do you want to help out and receive a FREE TICKET to the show? Just read below...

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
Basically we are trying to cover all major intersections and shop
fronts with posters over the next 2 weeks. So if you are interested in
helping out, all you need to do is message us on Facebook with the location you can cover, and you will be sent 25 posters to put up and a
free ticket to the show.. Easy!

20 May, 2013

The album is now available through our website and at the purchase links below (the only place you can buy the hardcopy CD!!) or through iTunes (digital download only). The artwork on the new album is insane and the CD includes a cool two-sided poster. Thanks again for your support everyone!

08 May, 2013

That makes two singles at our Triple J Page that are now available for free download, limited time only. Click below to get them!

The new single is "Ain't Gonna Get No Love From Me", which features me in a duet with Shalane Connors from Siskin River. If you like these tracks please remember to rate and review them on my Triple J Page; every bit of public support helps! The official LP release announcement is coming soon!

06 May, 2013

26 April, 2013

And now for the grand unveiling of the new
album art for "Home Is Where The Heart Is", which will be released
worldwide on May 5. Artwork once again by the fabulous award winning Australian
illustrator James Fosdike

Click the image to see the rest of the artwork! Special bonus: the actual physical CD will also include a large two sided poster, with the artwork on one side and a photo collage of Jay with all the album lyrics on the other side.

08 April, 2013

Come and get it. In anticipation of next month's release of the "Home Is Where The Heart Is" album we've made a preview single available for you on Triple J as a FREE DOWNLOAD. "Power Of The Rock" is currently at #10 on the Triple J Roots chart and you can help keep moving it up by listening to and/or downloading the track. Click HERE or on the Uluru photo below:

Update, April 12: The official music video was released today. Enjoy!

14 March, 2013

The band finished up four exciting shows on a variety of stages at the 2013 Port Fairy Folk Music Festival. The festival was lovely, and we managed to get in a bit of surfing too! Big thanks to all the music lovers supporting us.

We received favorable reviews of our performances- "The Fijian-born performer was a crowd favourite with his ability to pull
out and play new instruments for almost every song making him stand out
from the crowd." Read more HERE.
See more photo highlights from our festival performances and adventures by clicking HERE, or on the photo above.

19 January, 2013

Now this was an awesome, magical experience! Big cheers to Yoga Pam in Robe for organizing it. I plan on doing more of these combined sessions, hopefully all over the country. A Yoga Groove CD could also be in the works- great for when I can't actually be there in person!

13 January, 2013

I traveled to Chennai, India where I rendezvoused with my manager and trumpet player Jim Miller to perform at the Saarang World Cultural Festival. We were also joined by the fantastic Indian drummer Yohan Marshall.

Click here or on the photo above to see more shots form this special adventure. We're looking forward to our next Indian tour!

21 December, 2012

"Home Is Where The Heart Is" is now nearly completely recorded but there is still much more work to be done! We are now working on getting the album mixed, mastered, pressed and out to the masses, complete with incredible artwork and more love than you could ever imagine!

I have been proudly committed to staying completely independent throughout my career, even co-founding Walkaboutfish Records to give us the platform to independently release my music. This album is no different, except that it's our biggest and most ambitious project ever, and that is why we are asking for your help to get it off the ground. Click to pre-order and then please look at some of the extra incentives we've made available for you to be a part of this special project. Expected release date in early May 2013. Cheers!

14 September, 2012

What a year it has been so far! Here I am on a pit stop, airing out a few of my instruments while I get in a bit of down time as I head back to SA. If you've been following along with my Tour Schedule you'll know how full on it's been.

Thanks heaps for all your support - I have some exciting announcements to make about upcoming special tour events for me and my band. Stay tuned to this blog, my website and Facebook for all the latest info!

Stepping up to represent the boys are talented musician Jay Hoad, foodie about town and My Kitchen Rules contestant Paul Wood and returning champion from last year, McLaren Vale local Darren Bradley.

Each team is joined by a member of the crowd, chosen on the day.... and it could be you! And don't forget to see the full Jay Hoad Band in performance at the Sea and Vines Festival on both Sunday and Monday. Cheers!